Bad news, Batfans: Ben Affleck is no longer the man behind the man behind the cowl. Yep, he's stepping away from the director's chair for the in-development Batman solo spin-off from this year's Justice League.
The news broke yesterday, with Affleck releasing a statement in which he said that, really, he's still super into making The Batman, just in a different way. "Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give," he explained. "It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world."
That's a lot of reassurance for one statement.
Of course, maybe reassurance is what The Batman needs. It's already been used as an example of a blockbuster where quality isn't a priority, and Affleck himself has said "if it doesn't come together in a way I think is really great I'm not going to do it." And just a couple of weeks ago, he still seemed ambivalent about the current state of the script, telling IGN, "There’s great stuff in it now, it just needs to get better and better." That... almost sounds like enthusiasm? Nearly?
If fans are looking for silver linings in this news, the obvious bit is that the movie might actually be more likely to happen if Affleck is replaced by someone more enthusiastic about hitting the targeted 2018 release date. It also means Warner Bros. can put a director at the helm who doesn't have a half dozen other projects currently vying for their time. Now all Affleck and the studio have to do is pick one. Hey, we hear Joss Whedon is free.
